Machine tool



Feb. 15, 1938. Rl A, SCHAFER 2,108,297

MACHINE TOOL Filed Aug. 15, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. l5, 1938.

R. A, SCHAFER MACHINE TOOL Filed Aug. 15, 1952 4 sneets-sneet 2 Feb. 15, 1938. R. A. sci-IAFER 2,108,297

l MACHINE TOOL Filed Aug. 15, 1952 4 sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 15, 1938. R. A, scHAl-ER 2,108,297

MACHINE TOOL Filed Aug. 15', 1932 4 Sheets-Shea?I 4 Patented Feb. 15, 1938 UNlTED STATES was? yPATENT @FME MACHINE TOOL Application August 15, 1932, Serial No. 628,780

Claims.

This invention relates to machine tools in which a plurality of rotary members are driven simultaneously. While the invention is particularly `applicable to machine tools for drilling,

5 reaming, tapping, boring, countersinking, counterboring, spotfacing, grinding and honing, it is not intended to be limited to such machines, since it may readily be employed in any machine where a plurality of rotary spindles have to be driven.

The invention will be described, by way of example, in its application to a multiple spindle drill, comprising a head carrying a plurality of drills, which head is moved toward the work so as to drill a plurality of openings therein.

In machine tools of this type the head carries a cluster box upon which the appropriate spindles are mounted, the location and number of the spindles being dictated by the openings which it is necessary to make in the work. The power necessary to drive the spindles is derived from a single source, for example, an electric motor carried by the head, and is distributed from the motor shaft to the individual spindles by suitable gearing located within the cluster box.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved cluster box whereby the machine may readily be adapted for a change in the work.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved cluster box comprising two portions, lone being permanent and the other* being readily removable and replaceable, and being adapted to the particular Work to be done.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a box of this type, an improved mounting for the spindles and also an improved mounting for the pinions which drive same.

Other objects, advantages, and capabilities of the invention will readily appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a multiple spindle drilling machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view thereof taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View through the .cluster box of the machine, principally on the line 3 3 of Fig. 6, the line of section being modified to show the bearings for the main drive shaft and for the spindles in section;

Fig. l is a transverse sectional view through the cluster box of the machine taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional View through the cluster box taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view through the cluster box taken on the line 6 6 of Fig, 3.

Referring to the drawings, the machine tool comprises a base I0 upon which is slidably mounted a head II. The work I2 is supported on the base I0 and the head I I is adapted to slide toward and away from the work, being actuated in any suitable manner, for example by the hydraulic cylinder I 3 which may be controlled in the usual Way.

The head II carries an electric motor I-i which is adapted to operate the tools I5 through power connecting elements which will hereinafter be described in detail. `The tools I5 are shown by Way of example, as drills, and their number, size and location are dictated by the requirements of the work.

In order to simplify'the understanding of the invention, the operation may brieiiy be stated to comprise feeding the head I I toward the work i2 by means of the cylinder I3, the motor i4 operating the tools I5 to drill the desired holes in 'the Work. After this has been done, the direction of the operation of the cylinder I3 is reversed and the tools are Withdrawn from the Work.

The motor I4 is protected by means of a guard housing I6 mounted on the head I I, this housing being perforated at I'l to permit a shaft I8 coupled toi the shaft of the motor I4 to pass for1 Wardly therethrough. The shaft i3 is mounted in suitable bearings carried in the back plate E9 of the clusterl box 20. The cluster box 2G is ci rectangular form and is open back and front. It is provided adjacent the back with an integral partition 2l. The back plate I9 is bolted or otherwise suitably secured-to the cluster box Eil and is in spaced relation with the partition 2i so as to provide a compartment 22 which accommodates a pinion 23 rigidly carried by the shaft I8. A second compartment 2li is provided between the partition 2| and a removable partition 25 which is secured to the cluster box 29 in any suitable manner, for example by means of bolts 26 which extend through partition 25 into bosses 21 integral with the box 20.

The partition 2l and wall 25 are provided with bearings for shafts 28, located on either side of the pinion 23. The shafts 28 extend into the chamber 22 and the pinions 29 are keyed thereon Within the chamber 22. The pinions 29 are in mesh with the pinion 23 and are preferably larger than this pinion in order toprovide speed reduction for the motor. Within the chamber 24 is a pair of pinions 3E, which are keyed upon the shafts 28.

The partition 2| and wall 25 are also provided with bearings for a large number of shafts 3| which project forwardly, that is, toward the spindles, substantially beyond the wall 25. Pinions 32 are keyed to the forward ends of the shafts 3| and serve as permanently installed.

driving elements adapted to cooperate with the operative elements of the spindle box in the manner hereinafter described. Pinions 33 are keyed to the shafts 3| within the chamber 24. The shafts 3| and their associated pinions 32 and 33 are distributed over the eld of the machine so as to provide a convenient drive for any desired spindle, as will be more fully discussed hereinafter. For the purposes of economy and efliciency it is preferred to locate the axes of these fixed center drives in horizontal rows, and in rows located at 60 degrees to the horizontal, as shown in Figs. 4 and 6.

The pinions 33 form part of two trains of gearing as shown in Fig. 4, each train being driven from one of the pinions 30. Each train comprises pinions 33 and alternate idler pinions 34, which may suitably be mounted on shafts 35 which are also mounted in theY partition 2| and wall 25. As will be seen from Fig. 4, as many pinions 33 as possible are driven from the pinions 30 and the remaining pinions 33 are driven therefrom by means of the idlers 34.

In order toy provide for the efficient lubrication of all the gears and bearings within the cluster box I prefer to provide a pump 36 which is adapted to elevate oil from the bottom of the cluster box through a pipe 31 into an oil indicator 38, from whence the oil passes into a reservoir 39 at the top of the cluster box. The lower wall of the reservoir 39, that is the top-wall of the cluster box 20, is provided with a plurality of openings 43 so located as to permit oil to drip continuously, in the manner shown, onto the various shafts and pinions within the cluster box and spindle box. The pump 36 may suitably be driven from the shaft I8 and -the pump may be mounted on the wall A|9.

The cluster box so far described is intended to be a permanent installation of general utility, adapted for the expeditious mounting thereon of a spindle box carrying spindles adapted for a particular multiple drilling operation. It is to be noted that the wall 25 is located relatively deep in the cluster box 2|) leaving a space in the forward end thereof into which the sp-indle box may be slipped. It is to be noted that the shafts 3| project forwardly of theV wall 25 and that the pinions 32 carried at the forward ends thereof are likewise substantially in front of the wall 25.

The spindle box 4| may suitably comprise a hollow casting having spaced parallel walls 42 and 43, the former being provided with a flange which is adapted to overlie the forward edge of the cluster box 23, to which it may be removably secured in suitable manner, for example by means of bolts 44. The wall 43 has secured to its rear face an open-front box 45, by suitable means, for example bolts 46, which extend through bosses 41 carried by the box 45, said bolts being screwed into the wall 43.

The spindles 48 are mounted in openings 49 which are drilled through the walls 42 and 43 at the appropriate positions, which are of course dictated by the necessities of the work. At their inner ends the spindles 48 have keyed thereto pinions 5i] whereby they are driven from adjacent pinions 32 by means of intermediate pinions 5|. The intermediate pinions are supported on shafts 52 which are driven into openings 53. It will readily be understood that the appropriate positions of the openings 53 are dictated by the necessity of bringing the pinions 5| into mesh with the pinions 59 and with the appropriate pinion 32, which canreadily be determined from a consideration of the pitch radii of pinions 32, the pinions and the radii of the pinions 5|. As shown in Fig. 3, the pinions 5| may have the same or diierent pitch diameters at each end. Thus the speed ratios of the different spindles may be varied conveniently in accordance with the necessities of the work.

'Ihe uppermost pinion 5| shown in Fig. 3, provides for increased speed of the uppermost spindle. The next spindle is adapted for a reduced speed, the forward end of the pinion 5| being `greater than its rear end. The lowermost pinion 5|, which drives the two lowermost spindles, is of uniform pitch diameter at both ends so that the two lowermost spindles rotate at the same speed as the pinions 32; While it is preferred to make the pinions 32 and the pinions 50 substantially the same size, it will be readily understood that they may be of different sizes and that the construction may be freely modified in this respect in order to obtain desired spindle speeds. 'Ihe rear face of the box 45 is provided with openings 54 appropriately placed so as to permit the pinions 32 to enter into the spindle box so as to mesh with the pinions 5|.

It will readily be seen from Fig. 3 that each spindle 48 can be inserted from the front of the spindle box and is provided with thrust bearings whereby the thrust experienced by the tool during operation is immediately and directly connected to the spindle box. These bearings may be of different types, as is shown in Fig. 3. Thus the third spindle, as shown in this figure, has a simple bushing bearing in the walls 42 and 43. 'Ihe second spindle has a similar construction using anti-friction bearings. The lowermost spindle is provided with a bushing 55 mounted in a sleeve 56 which permits the removal of the y spindle complete with its bearings for use in another position, after pinion 5|! is removed. The topmost spindle shows a Ysimilar Vconstruction using anti-friction bearings.

While, for the purpose of illustration, I have shown the three lower spindles located in the same vertical plane as the pinions 32 from which they are driven, it will be understood that no limitation in this respect is intended, since the number of driving pinions 32 and their location is such that a spindle may be mounted in any position Within the field of the tool and may be connected by means of a suitable intermediate pinion 5| with at least one of the driving pinions 32. The lowermost spindle is shown directly in alignment with its driving pinion 32, this result being obtained owing to the fact that the pinions 32 and 50 are located in diiferent transverse planes while the pinions 5| extend through both these planes.

It will readily be understood that expedition is obtained by the present invention. The cluster box is a permanent construction, whereas the spindle box is only changed in order to adapt the machine for a new job. Thus the spindle box may be prepared while the previous job is in operation and when it is necessary to change over, the mounted spindle box is merely removed, the new one installed and work may proceed immediately.

While I have shown, for the purpose of simplicity, the invention applied to' a machine tool with a single head, it will readily be understood that the invention may be extended to tools having two, three or more heads, all of which may be provided with the distinctive mounting described above. It will alsol be understood that While I have shown four tools mounted rin position, that number is illustrative only and the number of tools which may be employed on any head is practically unlimited.`

Although. the invention has been disclosed in connection with the specific details of a preferred embodiment thereof, it must be understood that such details are not intended to be limitative of the invention except in so far as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A machine tool comprising a plurality of driving elements distributed in regular order in fixed positions over the field of the tool, a common drive for said driving elements, a separate unitary spindle box adapted to be removably mounted upon said machine tool, adapted rotatably to support a plurality of rotary tools adjacent said driving elements and in desired relation to the Work, and intermediate driving elements operatively connecting each spindle to one of the rst said driving elements, said spindle box providing bearings for both ends of said intermediate driving elements.

2. A machine tool comprising a plurality of driving elements. distributed equidistantly in fixed positions over the field of the tool, a common drive for said driving elements, a unitary spindle box carrying a plurality of rotary tools adapted to be mounted removably on the tool, said spindle box being provided with openings whereby the driving elements are adapted to enter thereinto, and intermediate driving elements operatively connecting each tool to one of the first said driving elements, said spindle box providing bearings for both ends of said intermediate driving elements.

3. A machine tool comprising a cluster box having a large number of driving elements distributed in regular rows over the iield of the tool and a common drive for said driving elements, and a removable unitary spindle box adapted for the mounting of spindles at desired positions, said spindles carrying driving elements and said spindle box carrying intermediate driving elements adapted operatively to connect the last said driving elements to selected ones of the first said driving elements, said intermediate driving elements comprising pinions provided with support by the spindle box at both ends.

4. A machine tool comprising a cluster box having a large number of driving pinions distributed in rows over the field of the tool, and a common drive for said driving pinions, and a removable unitary spindle box adapted to be mounted upon sai-d cluster box, said spindle box being of substantial thickness, a plurality of spindles provided with bearings in said spindle box, a plate rigidly mounted on the rear of said box and in spaced relation thereto, pinions carried by said spindles Within the space provided between the box and the plate, and idler pinions within said space in mesh with the spindle pinions, said idler pinions being supported by the spindle box and by the plate at both ends, said plate being provided with openings for the admission of the cluster box pinions into said space.

5. A machine tool comprising a cluster box of substantial depth, said cluster box having a large number of driving elements distributed in regular rows over the eld Aof the tool in a plane remote from the front end of the cluster box and a common drive for said driving elements, and a unitary spindle box adapted to be slid into the cluster box in telescopic relation, said spindle box comprising rotatably mounted spindles provided with pinions and intermediate pinions in mesh with the spindle pinions and located so that they are brought into mesh with appropriate driving elements. when the spindle box is slid into the iront of the cluster box, said intermediate pinions being mounted directly and exclusively on the spindle box.

6. A machine tool comprising a cluster box of substantial depth, said cluster box having a large number of driving elements distributed in rows over the field of the tool in a plane remote from the front end of the cluster box and a common drive for said driving elements, and a unitary spindle box adapted to be slid into the cluster box in telescopic relation, said spindle box comprising rotatably mounted spindles provided with pinions and intermediate pinions in mesh with the spindle pinions and located so that they are brought into mesh with appropriate driving elements when the spindle box is slid into th-e front of the cluster box, said intermediate pinions being mounted directly and exclusively, on the spindle box, 4and the rear Wall of the spindle box being provided with openings adapted freely to admit the driving elements into the spindle box in order to mesh with said intermediate spindles when the spindle box is slid into the cluster box.

7. In a machine tool of the type described, a unitary spindle box of substantial thickness adapted for the drilling of holes for the receptionv of bearings for spindles, said spindle box comprising walls in spaced relation defining a space in which the inner ends of the spindles are located, pinions mounted on said inner ends, and pinions` in said spaces meshing with said spindle pinions, the last said pinions being supported from both said walls and one of said walls being provided with numerous regularly spaced openings for the admission of regularly spaced driving elements into the spindle box.

8. In a machine tool of the type described, a unitary spindle box of substantial thickness adapted for the drilling of holes for the reception of bearings for spindles, said spindle box comprising walls in spaced relation dening a space in which the inner ends of the spindles are located, pinions mounted on said inner ends, and pinions in said spaces meshing with said spindle pinions, .and shafts for the last said pinions extending into both said walls, one of said walls being provided with numerous regularly spaced openings for the admission of regularly spaced driving elements into the spindle box.

9. In a machine tool of the type described, a unitary spindle box of substantial thickness adapted for the drilling of holes for the reception of bearings for spindles, said spindle box comprising walls in spaced relation defining a space in which the inner ends of the spindles are located, pinions mounted on said inner ends, and pinions in said spaces meshing with said spindle pinions, and shafts for the last said pinions, extending into both said Walls, the rear Wall of the spindle box being provided with numerous openings in regularly spaced relation for the admission of regularly spaced pinions adapted operatively to engage certain of the last said pinions.

l0. A machine tool comprising a cluster box of substantial depth, said cluster box having a number of driving elements distributed over the field of the tool and located in a plane remote from the front end of the cluster box, a common ydrive for said driving elements, a spindle box adapted to be slid into the cluster box in telescopic relation, said spindle box comprising rotatably mounted spindles, and driving elements supported at both ends in said spindle box adapt- -ed to connect same to the rst said driving elements When the spindle box is slid into the front of the cluster box, said cluster box being provided With an oil reservoir in its upper Wall and said cluster box and spindle box being provided with registering openings whereby the oil is adapted to drip onto the driving mechanism Within the spindle box, the last said `driving elements being operatively connected to the spindles and being located so as to engage a conveniently located one of the iirst said driving elements.

ROBERT A. SCHAFER. 

